Today, Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote a nice piece about Aaron Rodgers’ involvement with the MACC Fund and his friendship with Jack Bartosz, the Hartland boy who was recently featured in a story written by Julie Wroblewsi of The Lakeland Times.

That story was featured in The Times and here at Lombardiave.com because Jack’s grandmother, Julie Detling, is a former teacher at Lakeland Union High School and her husband is the former owner of Whoops!, a toy store in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Jack’s parents started I Back Jack, a foundation to raise funds and awareness of childhood cancer.

I post this story and the link to Dunne’s story here because as editor of The Lakeland Times and Lombardiave.com, the ties to the boy with local connections and with Aaron Rodgers only underscores just how small this world truly is.

Rodgers is a great guy whose impact on the football field is known worldwide. When his impact hits close to home, it means that much more.

Don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Jack Bartosz (left) and Aaron Rodgers (right) smile during a photo op at the Milwaukee Waves game where they met.

Julie Wroblewski, the features writer for The Lakeland Times in Minocqua, Wisconsin, is a Detroit Lions fan.

But that didn’t affect her one bit when she caught up with the Bartosz family members who described their love of Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers and what he has done for their son, Jack.

Through the MACC Fund, Rodgers has brought Jack and his family … and many other families facing juvenile cancers … a renewed hope and appreciation for life.

Rodgers has met with and inspired Jack, whose grandmother, Julie Detling, is a former English teacher at Lakeland Union High school in Minocqua – the school that’s covered by The Lakeland Times.

Rodgers’ phone calls on Jack’s birthday have always brought a smile to the youngster and their other meetings have been a highlight for the family, including his parents, Sarah and John Bartosz of Hartland, and his grandparents, Julie and Andy Detling of Manitowish Waters.

In Wroblewski’s story, the family talks about the challenges families face when their young children battle cancer, but it also paints Rodgers as the caring, loving man that people don’t see on the football field. It also describes the I Back Jack Foundation which was started by the Bartosz family.

This is one story that you don’t want to miss. You won’t find it on any sports page, but you will find it in The Lakeland Times …

Check it out by clicking here …

Clipped from: www.lakelandtimes.com (share this clip)